STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's College (30-4, 20-2 GNAC) posted a pair of convincing victories over University of New England (22-14, 12-6 CCC) in a non-conference softball doubleheader at Richard W. Bailey Field on Tuesday night. The Monks opened with a 7-2 triumph and completed the sweep with an 11-2 victory over the Nor'easters in the nightcap.

GAME ONE – Saint Joseph's 7, UNE 2

Saint Joseph's kicked off the scoring with a run in the first inning and would score at least once in five of six turns at the bat in the opener. Junior third baseman Kim Jordan (Bangor, Maine) led off the bottom of the first with a single, moved to second on a Connie Grovo (Limington, Maine) bunt and scored easily when freshman shortstop Danica Gleason (South Portland, Maine) tripled to deep right-center.

The Monks took advantage of three UNE errors with three runs off two hits in the second inning. Sophomore first baseman Melissa Mayhew (Hiram, Maine) opened with a double and promptly scored the hosts' second run when the following batter – freshman catcher Jennifer Murphy (Andover, Mass.) singled and advanced to second on a throwing error. Freshman center fielder Carla Tripp (Lovell, Maine) was hit by a pitch, stole second base, and scored on an outfield error to make it a 3-0 game through two innings.

The Nor'easters put a run on the board off two hits in the third, when Allie Frazier (Tewksbury, Mass.) singled and scored on an Amanda Vaudreuil (Windham, N.H.) double.

Saint Joseph's proceeded to score single runs in the third and fourth innings, as Jordan rapped an RBI single in the former and senior left fielder Theresa Hendrix (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) notched a run-scoring knock in the latter to lift the Royal Blue to a 5-1 cushion through four innings of play.

UNE scored a run off a hit and two SJC miscues in the sixth, when Jess Lemos (Chelmsford, Mass.) reached via error and later scored on another misplayed ball. Saint Joseph's countered with a run off two hits in the bottom of the sixth, as Megen Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) plated Hendrix, who reached with a single, with a sac fly to center, accounting for the 7-2 final.

Five different players recorded a pair of hits for Saint Joseph's, as Jordan and Hendrix both went 2-4 with a run and an RBI, Gleason was 2-2 with a triple and an RBI, Murphy went 2-3 with a run and an RBI, and Mayhew added two hits, a run scored and a two-bagger in the victory. Starting pitcher Laura Jordan (Orrington, Maine) tossed three effective innings, allowing a run off three hits, but did not factor in the decision. Sophomore Erica Boulanger (Somersworth, N.H.) picked up the victory after dealing two frames of two-hit ball and is now 5-1 on the season while freshman Danielle Egan (Waterboro, Maine) surrendered an unearned run off two hits with a walk and a strikeout over two innings of work.

For the Nor'easters, Vaudreuil was 2-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI and starting pitcher Katelyn Austin (Bethlehem, N.H.) was hit with the loss after giving up seven runs (four earned) off 10 hits and four walks with a pair of K's in five innings. Abby Lambert (Brockton, Mass.) yielded a hit and a walk with a punch-out in one inning of relief for the visitors.

GAME TWO – Saint Joseph's 11, UNE 2

The Monks set the tone early in the nightcap, plating three runs off three hits in the bottom of the first to put the Nor'easters on their heels. Mayhew delivered the clutch hit, singling to knock in a pair with the bases loaded and two out while freshman Mariah Harrison (Buxton, Maine) plated the third run with a single to left-center.

UNE responded with a run in the top o the second, as Adrienne Chase (Holden, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and later came around to score on a Lemos sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game.

Saint Joseph's extended the advantage to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, when Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.) drove Tripp home with a sac fly and Gleason plated Jordan with a double to left-center.

The Monks delivered the knockout blow in the third, scoring six runs off five hits and a pair of UNE errors to put the game out of reach. Mayhew doubled and scored on a single by Pollini, who later scored – along with Tripp and Harrison – when Jordan cleared the bases with a double to left field. Freshman Molly Mack (Portland, Maine/McAuley) pinch hit for Gleason and ripped an RBI single while pinch-runner Marissa Hernandez (Goshen, N.Y.) scored on an error and Hendrix knocked home the Monks' final run on a fielder's choice.

Eight different Saint Joseph's batters registered at least one hit in the triumph, with Gleason, Mayhew and Tripp notching two hits apiece in the closing contest. Senior starter Rae-Marie Copan (Newton, Mass.) earned the victory and improves to 12-2 on the season after giving up a run off two hits with a pair of K's in three innings and freshman Kylie McFadden (Dover, N.H.) tossed two innings of two-hit relief, fanning one while allowing an unearned run.

Sophomore hurler Lauren Doneski (Waltham, Mass.) took the loss for the Nor'easters after surrendering 11 runs (six earned) off 10 hits and three walks in three innings. Austin came on in relief and allowed a hit with a strikeout in one inning of mop-up duty.

Prior to the start of game two, the SJC softball program held a brief ceremony in honor of the team's four seniors: Copan, Grovo, Hendrix and Moore. Each of these players has played a major role in the program's success over the last four seasons, a span during which the Monks posted a 134-36 (.788) record overall and an 82-14 (.854) mark in GNAC play with three-consecutive conference championships.

Tonight's mercy-rule result in the nightcap is the Monks' first eight-run triumph over the Nor'easters since April 25th, 2002 when SJC bested UNE by a 9-1 margin. St. Joe's and UNE split a pair of close contests in Biddeford last spring.

Saint Joseph's is set to host the GNAC Tournament, which begins with a pair of contests on Friday afternoon. The Monks, who received a first-round bye as the top seed, are scheduled to play an undetermined opponent at 5:00 PM that day.

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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.